Ford, Newman's Own Partner with Feeding America

November 19, 2012

For the 12th consecutive year, Ford Motor Company and Newman's Own Inc. are partnering with Feeding America, the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization, to donate Ford refrigerated trucks filled with Newman's Own food products.

Food banks in four regions are receiving trucks this year including Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan.

With this year's donation of four Ford F-550 trucks, a total of 107 Ford trucks and vans have been donated to Feeding America food banks to help deliver nutritious perishable foods.

The partnership between the two companies began 12 years ago when Paul Newman reached out to see how Ford Motor Company could join with Newman's Own to address the critical need for fresh and nutritious food for families facing hunger. Since then Feeding America has been able to deliver more than 209 million meals to families across the country.

The refrigerated trucks allow for delivery of perishable food to hard-to-reach communities that often are underserved, as well as urban and suburban areas where there is an urgent need for nutritious food. Besides Gleaners, other food banks receiving trucks this fall are Feeding America San Diego, Feeding South Florida in Miami and Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.

"Some of the largest increases in food need are in suburban Detroit communities, many of which lack a strong network of emergency food providers," says W. DeWayne Wells, president of Gleaners. "We're grateful to Ford and Newman's Own for this donation, and for continuing to strengthen the emergency food network here and across the country."

"We have seen a dramatic rise in the number of people raising their hands seeking food assistance from the Feeding America network. Today, we are feeding 37 million people each year - that's an increase of 1 million people from four years ago," said Matt Knott, interim president and CEO of Feeding America.

More information on the programs

Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan, founded in 1977, is one of the oldest and largest food banks in the country.

Today it distributes more than 46 million pounds of emergency food annually, equivalent to 100,000 meals per day. Headquartered in Detroit, Gleaners operates a total of five distribution centers in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Livingston and Monroe counties, which provide food to over 600 partner soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters and other agencies throughout southeastern Michigan.

Of every dollar donated, Gleaners uses 94 cents for food and food programs. One dollar provides three meals for a hungry neighbor. Learn more at www.gcfb.org.

Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 37 million Americans each year, including 14 million children and 3 million seniors.

Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks support 61,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. For more information on how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit www.feedingamerica.org.